Key holder frame



Aug. 26, 1952 W JQNES 2,608,086

KEY HOLDER FRAME Filed Sept. 16, 1949 NvBNI'oR: WALTER JONES,

ATTORNEY.

'Patented Aug. 26, 1952 KEY HOLDER FRAME Walter I. Jones, Somerville,Mass., assigner to United-Carr Fastener Corporation, Cambridge,

Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application September 16, 1949,Serial No. 116,032-

11 Claims.

This invention relates generally to key retaining devices, and hasparticular reference to a key holder frame adapted to receive vkey hooksof the type having an enlarged head disposed on the end of a neckportion.

The object of the invention is to provide a key holder frame which isadapted to receive the enlarged head of a key hook in snappingengagement therewith, to allow the key hook to be easily engaged anddisengaged with the frame.

A further object of the invention is to provide a key holder frame ofimproved construction which is adapted to receive a plurality of keyhooks thereon, which is so constructed as to allow the head of the keyhooks to be engaged therewith with a double snap action.

A further object of the invention is to provide a key holder frameformed of a single piece of sheet metal in which a plurality of springtongues are provided to overhang an opening or openings in a base toallow the head of a key hook to be snapped into engagement betweenadjacent tongues and an edge provided by the opening.

Other objects of the invention will, in part, be obvious, and will, inpart, appear hereinafter.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention,reference should be had Fig. 3 is a view in section taken on line 3-3 ofFig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view in section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a view in section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2; and Y Fig. 6 isa view similar to Fig. 4, in which the base member is provided withcertain modifications within the scope of the invention.

Referring to the drawing, there is illustrated a key frame I0, which isadapted for attachment to a'supporting member l2, such as a key case orthe like, to receive and engage key hooks i4.

The key frame I0 comprises a base I6, which may be provided withopenings I8, to receive rivets 20 for attaching the frame to thesupporting member, and a'series of spring tongues 22 (Cl. '7G-456)disposed on the base in spaced relation to one another to form key hookreceiving slots 24 between adjacent tongues. In the preferredernbodiment the tongues 22 are integral with the upper edge of the base,and are curled back thereon to form afree end portion 26 whichv extendsinwardly toward the plane of the base, and an intermediate portion 28which is disposed outwardly from the base to form a key head receivingspace 29 therebetween. A horizontal u opening 30, having an upper edge32 and a lower edge 34 is provided in the vbase directly opposite theends 28 of the tongues so that the ends 28 overhang the opening, and inthe preferred embodiment the edges 32 and 34 are substantiallyequidistant from the ends 28vfor a purpose to appear hereinafter.

The key hooks I4 for usewith the key frame of the invention are wellknown in the art, and generally comprise a key retaining loop 36 andapair of legs 38 which are held together by the spring action of theloop. To provide means for engagement with 'a key frame, the legs 38 areshaped to provide an enlarged head 40 disposed on a neck portion 42. Therelative dimensions of the slots 24 and the head and neck of the keyhook are such that the head cannot pass through the slot, but the neckis freely slidable therein. The distance between the ends 26 of thetongues and the edges 32 and 34 of the horizontal opening 30 is alsoslightly less than the diameter of the enlarged head 40 to permit thehead to be snapped into engagement between adjacent tongues as will behereinafter described.

Referring to Figs. 2-5, there is illustrated the method of assembling akey hook on the key frame. The head 40 of a hook is placed against thebase I6 between the ends of adjacent tongues (see I4-l in Figs. 2 and 3)and pushed upwardly and inwardly so that the head snaps between the endsof adjacent tongues and the lower edge 34 of the opening into anintermediate position in the opening 30 between the ends 26 of the twoadjacent tongues. (See I4-2 in Figs. 2 4.) To complete the assembly, thehead 4D is then pushed upwardly to snap between the adjacent ends 26 andthe upper edge 32 of the opening into the head receiving space 29,thereby causing the neck portion to enter the slot 24 between adjacenttongues. (See I4-3 in Figs. 2, 3, and 5.) The assembled key hook isfreely movable up and down in the slot, and is retained therein by thehead 40 engaging the edges of adjacent tongues. -The key hook is removedfrom the frame in a similar manner, by snapping the head downwardly intothe intermediate position, and then snapping it outwardly between theends of the adjacent tongues and the lower edge of the horizontalopening.

Although in the illustrated embodiment of the device, the edges 32 and34 of the horizontal opening are equidistant from the ends 28 of thetongues to provide the double snap action during assembly of a key hook,in some cases the edges of the horizontal slot may be so spaced inrelation to the ends of the tongues as to provide only a single snapaction. The horizontal opening 30 may be provided by a slot extendingcompletely through the base I6 as illustrated in Fig. 4, or in somecases may be provided by a groove or recess 44 in the base, asillustrated in Fig. 6.

Since certain other obvious changes maybe made in the device Withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, it is intended that allmatter contained herein be interpreted in an illustrative and not inaglimiting sense.

I claim:

l. A key holder frame, comprising a adapted to be secured to asupporting member, said base having aseries of spring tongues dif*-posed thereon, adjacent tonguesof said ser-ies being spaced apart toform a slot to `receive a key hook, each of said tongues `having aportion spaced outwardly from the base terminating in an end extendinginwardly toward the base, said 'base having an opening :therein oppositethe-ends of said `tongues ,and `opposite to Aeach jkey receiving slot.

2. A key holder,` frame, lcomprising a base adapted `to be secured to asupporting member,

said base having a horizontal .slot :disposed therein, and a series ofspring tongues disposed on the base, adjacent tongues of said 4series.being spaced apart a .predetermined 'distance ,to form a slot toreceive :a key hook therebetween, each of said tongues :havinga portionspaced outwardly from the base terminating in an end extending inwardlytoward 4the ,planeof the base, said ends being disposedover said slot.

. 3. A., key holder frame, ycomprising a base adapted to be secured ',to:a supporting member, said base having .ahorizontalislot disposedthereirl, .and a series lof spring tonguesdispcsed on :the base parallelto the slot'adjacent tonguesof said series being spaced apart a:predetermined distance to receive `a key .hook therebetween, .each ofsaid tongues being .attached to .thebase at the upper portion, andhaving an intermediate :portion spaced apart frornthe base and a freeend portion extending inwardly toward the plane of the base andoverhanging saidslot.

4. A key holder frame, comprising a base adapted to be secured .to..,-asupporting member, said base having a horizontal slot Vdisposedvtherein, anda series of springY tonguesdisposed onthe base,adjacenttongues of .said seriesbeingvspaced apart a predetermineddistance toreceive azkey hook therebetween, said ,tongues being :integral with theupper edge of .thebase andbeingcurled back on the baseandjhavingfreeendsextending inwardly `toward the base and cverhanging .the slot.

r5. A key holder fframe Yto receive key hooksof the type Vhaving anenlarged :engaging portion disposed on the endof a neck portion, saidframe comprising a base adapted .to 4be secured vto 4,a supportingsheet, `and,af-series of spring tongues disposed on Vthe base, adjacenttongues of said 4series beingspacedapart a ,predetermined :distance,forming slots :to :receive ,the neck portion and engage the enlargedportion of a key hook, said tongues being attached to the base at theupper portion, and having an intermediate portion spaced apart from thebase and a free end portion extending inwardly toward the base andterminating in spaced relation to the plane of the base, said basehaving an opening disposed therein opposite the ends of each adjacentpair of tongues and slot formed therebetween, an edge of the baseprovided by said opening and the ends of the tongues being spaced aparta sufcient distance to allow the enlarged :portion of the key hook to besnapped between the ends of adjacent tongues and the edge of the basethrough said opening and slot.

6. A key holder frame to receive key hooks of the type having anenlarged engaging portion disposed on the end of a neck portion, saidframe comprising a base adapted to be secured to a supporting member,and a series of spring tongues disposed on the base, adjacent tongues ofsaid series'V being spaced apart a predetermined distance to receive theneck portion of a key hook therebetween and to engage the enlargedportion of .the key hook adjacent the neck portion, each of said tonguesbeing attached to the base at the upper portion. and having anintermediate portion spaced apart from the base and a free end portionextending inwardly toward the base, said base having a slot disposedtherein opposite the ends of the tongues; an edge of the base providedby the slot and the ends of the tongues being spaced aparta suincientdistance .to allow the .enlarged portion of the key hook to snapbetweenadjacent tongues and said edge.

'7. A key holder frame to receive key hooks of the type having anenlarged engaging portion disposed on the end of a neck portion, saidframe comprising a base adapted to be secured toa supporting member, anda series of spring tongues integral with the :upper edge of the base,Vadjacent tongues of said series being spaced apart a predetermineddistance to receive the neck portion of a key hook therebetween and toengage the enlarged portion .of the key hook adjacent the neck portion,said .tongues being curled back over the Ybase and terminating in freeendsspaced apart from the plane of the base, :said base having alongitudinal slot disposed therein opposite the -ends of the tongues, anYedge of the base provided by the slot and the ends of said :springtongues being spaced aparta sufficient distance to allow the enlargedportion of a key hook 'to snap between the ends of adjacent tongues andsaid edge.

8. A-key holder frame to receive Vkey hooks of the type having anenlarged lengaging portion disposed on -the end of a-neckportion, saidframe comprising a base adapted to be secured to a supporting member,the upper edge portion ,of said base being curled back over itself toform'a portion spaced apart from the base, said curled back portionterminating in an end v extending toward the plane of the base, saidcurled back portion having `key hook r-eoeiving slots extending from theend thereof forming individual tongues, said :base having an openingopposite the endof each of said slots. Y

9. A key holder frame as set forthin claim ,1, in which the end of eachtongue is spaced substantially equidistant frornthe edges ,-Of ,the`base formed by the opening therein.V i

l0. A keyholder Yfrarneasset forth-.in claims, in weigh 4the :en df eachtongue isspaced substantially equidistant from the upper and lower edgesformed by the horizontal slot.

11. A key holder frame to receive key hooks ofthe type having anenlarged head portion disposed on the end of a neck portion, said framecomprising a base having a horizontal slot therein, and spring tonguesmounted on the base, said spring tongues having a portion spaced apartfrom the base forming a key head receiving space, and ends extendinginwardly toward the plane of the base and overhanging the horizontalslot, adjacent tongues being spaced apart a predetermined distance toreceive the neck of a key hook therebetween, the end of each tonguebeing spaced substantially equidistant from the upper and lower edges ofthe base provided by the slot, whereby the head of a key hook may beengaged with the frame by first snapping the head into REFERENCES CITEDThe following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,550,727 Lorber Aug. 25, 19251,581,016 Reiter Apr. 13, 1926 1,822,502 Reiter Sept. 8, 1931 ZarowinMay 16, 1944

